Russian-speaking community of the Greater Los Angeles is one of the most diverse such communities
in the USA and is also one of the largest, by some counts numbering at 600
thousand just in the LA metro area. This makes it one of the five largest
Russian-speaking communities in the United States, and the largest one on the US
West Coast.

Community members are engaged in a wide variety of professions, including small
business ownership, engineering, performing arts and almost any other profession
that comes to mind. Perhaps not surprisingly, aspiring Russian-American actors
are drawn to Hollywood as much as other Americans looking for stardom. And find
it, they do! Among the thousands of starving want-to-bes originally from the
countries of the Former Soviet Union - living in LA, there now are at least
seven who have appeared in major Hollywood productions.

"Russians"
have gotten into other artsy occupations, as well. Who in LA has not heard of
the Red Elvises, a Russian pop band that for years played on the promenade by
the ocean; or enjoyed the sweet and sour sounds of Hollywood Klezmer, a Jewish
band that includes a former Red Elvis? Add to these achievements, those by the
group of local Russian animators, engineers, doctors, lawyers and, of course,
businessmen and you get a good picture of this thriving community in full bloom.
Keeping this community blooming, by creating opportunities for its members to
meet, as well as by sustaining and teaching Russian language and culture are
institutions such as the Chekhov Theater, the two Russian game show clubs, the
many Russian language daycare centers, schools, newspapers and this web site.
Some of the local groups have recently opened up their own websites on the
Internet.

To get a better idea of
the local "Russian" achievements, check out the upscale Russian Roulette
Restaurant, with live music and singing, located in the plush neighborhood
bordering Beverly Hills - this restaurant's presence (not to mention its
clientele) speaks loudly
for the successes of the former "Russians" in Los Angeles. Of course, no ethnic
community can thrive without a healthy overabundance of its food. The Russian
Los Angeles multi-ethnic communities have this angle fully covered, with a
variety of Russian grocery stores in West Hollywood (Los Angeles's own version
of New York's Brighton Beach), Jewish Delis and many more Russian Restaurants
along Fairfax. In addition, areas east of the LA metro, Glendale and the San
Fernando Valley, just north of the Hollywood Hills, are well peppered with a
variety of food establishments serving an over 1 Million member (largest outside
of Armenia) Armenian community.

For more information on the Greater Los Angeles Area points of interest, look at this
list from the California Division of Tourism. To learn more about the local
Russian-speaking community, please visit our forums and please come back here to
Russian Los Angeles on http://www.russian-la.com